Improvement in indexes for books



BLT. SARGENT. Indexes for Books 'No.15 4,768. Patented Sept.8,1874.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. RANSOM T. SABGENT, OF NORWICH, VERMONT.

IMPROVEMEN T IN INDEXES FOR BOOKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,768, dated September 8, 1874 application filed March 10, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RANSOM T. SARGENT, of Norwich, in the county of Windsor and State of Vermont, have invented an Improved Index for Books, of which the following is a specification My invention relates to indexes used to facilitate reference in books, such as Bibles, dictionaries, account books, and all books to which frequent reference is made, the contents of which are capable of being ind exed and arranged into heads or chapters; and it consists in a novel combination and arrangement of marks, signs, letters, and figures, which have for their object to facilitate the work of finding the place sought, as will be fully hereafter set forth. V

-Figure l is 'a perspective view of a ledger provided with my improved index. Fig. 2 is a view, showing the manner of finding a place with the index. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a Bible, showing a different modeof ar ranging the indexing marks to those of Figs. 1 and 2.

A'is a book, to the rear cover or fly-leaf a of which is pasted a strip, B, of paper, parchment, or other suitable material, which strip extends along the leaf or cover, and is of sulficient width to allow of the required words, signs, 850., being written or printed thereon. This strip has ruled on its upper surface, transversely of its length, a number of lines, I) I), while the edge of the book, formed by the front edges of its leaves, has an equal number of transverse lines, o c, ruled thereon. These lines on the edge of the book coincide with those on the strip-B, so that, when the book is closed, they form continuous lines with those of the strip B. Now, no two lines on the edge of the book are of equal length, but, commencing at the last page of the book, they proceed across its edge, each one being of different length to the one above or below it, and, consequently, terminates at a difierent leaf of the book. Now, the contents of the leaf at which any line terminates are indicated on the strip B over the line coinciding with the line on the book-edge, and to find the place it will only be necessary to open the book at the leaf at which the line terminates. Thus, for instance, on desiring to find the account of Brown in the ledger, Fig. 1, this individuals name must first be sought on the strip B, and,-

having been found, the book must be opened at the termination of the line on its edge coinciding with the line under-Brown on the strip, and on this page will be found Browns' account. In the same manner, on desiring to open the Bible, Fig. 2, at any particular point, it will be necessary to find the book, chapter, or epistle sought on the strip B, and open the book at the upper termination of the line coinciding with the line under the name on the strip B.

Fig. 3 shows a modification of the invention. In this instance it is printed on the edge of the rear side of the last, or the front of the first, leaf in the book, which arrangement renders it unnecessary to have a strip projecting beyond the other leaves. The index may either be printed on a strip, or a whole leaf, which would be pasted or otherwise permanently secured in the book, or the strip may be pasted on the inside of the cover, as in Fig. 1, so as to be easily folded in when not in use. V

I am aware that cut-out portions of books, with indicating Words printed above or below upon the opening portion or edges of the leaves, have been used in directories long prior to my invention, and I disclaim such a method of indication.

I claim as my invention- The combination, with the book A, of the index-register B, and indicating-lines c 0, constructed as and for the purposes described and specified.

RANSOM T. SARGENT.

Witnesses:

W. E; LEWIS JEN A. SARGENT. 

